General Notes

* Education: Hampden-Sydney; Nassau Hall or Princeton, 1780, honor man, delivered valedictory in Latin.
* Occupation: Planter, merchant

1. Trustee of Hampsen-Sidney 1782 intil death. 2. He was at Hampden-Sidney when he joined the Student Company and entered the War of the Revolution, and was afterwards an officer in the company organized by his brother-in-law, Captain Thomas Watkins. He enter Princeton and graduated with first honours. he established his seat at "Springfield", was a planter and merchant, "the leading mind in that whole region", a man of great influence, "eminiently a practical man, a stern patriot and friend of good order in society, public spirited, and a patron of all improvements". 3. His Revolutionary record is creditable. In 1776, the students of Prince Edward Academy, of whom he was one, organized themselved into a military company and elected one of their tutors, Rev. John Blair Smith, their captain. Samuel W. Venable was ensign. In Sept., 1777, this company of school boys marched to Williamsburg to help defend it against an anticipated invasion by the British. After the danger was passed, Governor Henry complimented the company and dismissed it. On the call of General Greene for troops, when he was retreating from the South toward Virginia, before Conrwallis, a company of dragoons, Prince Edwrd Dragoons, commanded by captain Thomas Watkins, repaired to his camp. Samuel Woodson Venable was cornet (equivalent to Lieutenant) of this company and participated in the battle of Guilford Court House, March, 1781, at which the "Queens Guards' was defeated. He also served as side on General Greene's staff. Captain Watkins' company served in general Lawson's Brigade under Colonel Washington. After the action at Guilford, Colonel Washington wrote a letter to Captain Watkins, in which the bravery and skill of the Prince Edward troop and their commander were highly extolled and commended. )See: Recollections of Henry W. Allen by Sarah A. Dorsey, Book I, p. 19.) 4. The Venables trace their ancestry to 1052 with Gislebertus de Venables in France. In 1066 Gilbert, in English translation, fought with William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings, and was awarded vast estates in England. The Venables held the title of Baron of Kinderton for more than 700 years there. The emigrant to America in 1680 was Abraham, referred to as Abraham I. His son, known as Abraham II, acquired vast tracts of land in Fluvanna County, VA. His son Samuel Woodson Venable, Elizabeth's father, was in the House of Representatives, on the Board of Trustees of Hampden-Sydney College, and a friend of George Washington. In return for a donation to the College of 100 shares of James River stock that he obtained from George Washington, Samuel was responsible for renaming it Washington College. Robert E. Lee became President of the College at the conclusion of the Civil War and it was then renamed Washington and Lee University. Samuel was a student at Hampden-Sydney College when the Revolutionary War broke out. He Joined the student company there and later became an officer in the company organized by Thomas Watkins, aide on General Greenes staff. Samuel then attended Princeton and was Valedictorian, class of 1780. Samuel Woodson Venable was a planter and merchant at "Springfield". Samuel d. 7 Sep 1821, VA. The exact place is not known. His site of burial is not known. 5. SURN Venable GIVN Samuel Woodson NPFX Col. TITL DAR Lineage Books AUTH Daughters of the American Revolution PAGE DAR ID Number: 68407 TITL DAR Lineage Books AUTH Daughters of the American Revolution PAGE DAR ID Number: 68407 _UID 30974CD489B3914C9CC2973A917E57B24730 "Word Pictures of Longwood," by Harriet V. Miller, private printing, 1941, pp. 15-16: At Princeton...."he was an honorable man,delivering the valedictory in Latin, as was usual." He was a trustee of Hampden-Sidney College. DAR papers for Mary E. Miller; also #548112: Revolutionary War Vet, served under Lighthorse Harry Lee, Watkins' Legion Cavalry, Pr. Edw. Co., VA; Ensign, Cornet and Captain. He participated in the battle of Guilford Courthouse, 1781, helping to defeat the Queen's Guards; was aide on Gen. Greene's staff. "Venables of Virginia," pp. 41 and 42. VA State enumerations, Pr.Edw. Co.: 1783: 5 whites, 15 blacks; 1785: 13 whites, 2 dwellings, 13 other bldgs . REPO @@REPO2@@ TITL Ancestry.com file 14810.ged AUTH slassen@@InfoAve.Net TITL DAR Lineage Books AUTH Daughters of the American Revolution PAGE DAR ID Number: 68407 DATE 20 May 2001 1 NOTE REF: Meade, "Old Churches and Families", 2:32; Morrison, "Dictionary of 2 CONT Biography", pg.31; Alice Rouse's "Reads and Their Relatives", pp. 127,128. 5. American Biographical Library The Biographical Cyclopdia of American Women Volume II Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution Alphabetical List of Officers of the Continental Army V Fifteenth Virginia page 560 Venable, Samuel (Va). Lieutenant of Virginia Dragoons at Guilford in March, 1781.

2.Will of Samuel Woodson Venable of "Springfield," Prince Edward Co., Va.

I, Samuel W. Venable, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and constitute this my last will and testament. In the first place it is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid. It is my will and desire that all the debts due to me on any account be collected as well those due on my private books as those which fall to me on the dissolution and settlement of the business now carried on at Union Mills under the firm of Venable & Co. in which my son Nathaniel and myself are partners the terms of the partnership will be seen in our agreement now in my possession. It is my desire also that my executors dispose of the goods and property which belongs to me in that concern as soon as circumstances and the interest of my estate will permit. It is my will and desire that the money which shall arise from my stock in trade, crops on hand, cash in hand, debts due in any way, or from bank stock or stock of any kind which I may possess at my decease and which I may hereafter direct to be sold, shall constitute a fund for the payment of my debts and legacies in the first place and then for such other purposes as I shall hereafter direct. It is my will that so much of my personal and perishable estate as my executors and my beloved wife shall think the family can conveniently spare shall be sold also a negro woman Sall now living at my plantation in Halifax, also some Georgia certificates which I hold and the proceeds to be applied as I have above directed. I wish my executors to sell the negro woman Sall to a humane master and if possible to such as she will choose to go to and therefore the mode of sale and price is entirely left to their discretion. It is my will and desire that my son Abraham W. Venable be supported from my estate until he shall have studied his profession and at least one year after he comes of age. I wish also the expense necessary to finish the education of my daughter Mildred in such way as my beloved wife and my executors may judge best and also the expense necessary for her support till she marries or comes of age to be paid out of my estate. I have directed that my son Abraham W. Venable and my daughter Mildred C. Venable should be supported out of my estate until a certain period when funds come into the hands of my executors over and above what may be necessary to pay my debts and legacies. It is my desire that they appropriate a full and sufficient fund to answer this purpose and pay any other moneys which I may hereafter direct to be paid out of my estate and this sum so appropriated they may put out to interest upon landed or other undoubted security and it is my will that the interest so long as it is sufficient and then so much of the principal as may be necessary shall be applied for the purposes above mentioned. When monies or funds belonging to my estate over and above what may be necessary for the last mentioned appropriation shall come into the hands of my executors-- It is my will and desire that they from time to time as such funds accumulate so as to make them in their judgment an object to distribute do distribute the same among those children to whom I shall leave the residue of my estate and so continue to do from time to time untill my daughter Mildred shall marry or become of age when I will and desire that the general distribution of my estate shall take place. If I should leave any negroes undisposed of I will that my executors hire them out untill the general distribution of my estate and consider their hire as belonging to the fund for supporting my daughter Mildred untill she becomes of age or marry which I have mentioned above. Now I give and bequeath in the following manner my estate real and personal(???). I give and bequeath to my beloved wife during her natural life the land and plantation whereon I now live except a small part which I shall hereafter dispose of, also the following negroes to-wit Jack, Patty, Abram, Molly and Jenny and their children now born or to be born hereafter except such as are hereafter disposed of in this will old Dick, Barbara and her son, William, Judy, Congo these are also given to her during her natural life. I give her absolutely and at her own disposal four horses such as she shall choose out of my stock of horses twenty cattle as many of the sheep and hogs as she may wish to have all of her choice--likewise as many of the plantation tools and household and kitchen furniture as she may think necessary our riding carriage and harness as much forage and provisions as will at least last a year if so much is on hand. I give her also twenty bank shares such as I may possess or the value thereof in money if I should not possess so many at the time of my decease these last are given to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elisabeth W. Watkins wife of William Watkins one undivided half of my tract of land on Difficult creek having a mill on the same which said tract of land in the whole will contain about eight hundred acres after taking off a . . . part adjoining the land bought by me of William Boyd which said land I have willed to my daughter Mary C. Womack. Also George a negro boy the son of Patty and Jack and one undivided third part of my lot in Richmond received by inheritance of my brother Abraham B. Venable and four hundred pounds in money all of which is given to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Peggy R. Cabell the proceeds of the following lands which I desire my executors to sell for her use to-wit, one tract in Kentucky Iying on the Chaptain fork of Salt River and containing five hundred acres one other tract lying in Monroe County near the Red Sulphur Spring and containing five hundred and seventy acres one young negro man named Oliver and two hundred pounds in money all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Mayo Read my tract of land lying near the college of Hampden-Sidney and adjoining the lands of my brother Richard and containing about three hundred and seventeen acres. Also Adam a negro boy received from the estate of Colo. Read and two hundred and fifty pounds in money all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary C. Womack my tract of land in Halifax County which I bought of William Boyd commonly called Cannons Tract containing about three hundred and eighty acres also fifty acres adjoining the same which I reserved of the tract bought of Scott and others when I gave my son Paul his tract of land also fifty acres more lying adjoining to it belonging to the tract bought of the heirs of Charles Edwards to be laid off by my executors in the manner most suitable to both tracts--that is to say the tract now given to my daughter Mary C. Womack and the balance of the tract bought of Edwards' heirs now given to my daughters Elisabeth W. Watkins and Agness W. Watkins. I give her also Sam called waggoner Sam also Griffin, Lucy and their child and future increase also two hundred and fifty pounds in money all of which I give to her and her heirs forever with this exception nevertheless that if my son Abraham W. Venable needs a settlement on account of his mother possessing the tract of land left him he shall have the use of the tract of land given to my daughter Mary C. Womack untill his mother's death at which time he shall possess the tract of land left him and my daughter Mary C. Womack shall possess the tract of land left her. I give and bequeath to my daughter Clementina Reid wife of William S. Reid that part of my tract of land lately bought of Blake B. Woodson which said Woodson bought of William Jones containing about three hundred and nineteen acres also twenty acres of wood land to be taken from the other part of the tract bought of Blake B. Woodson and lying most convenient to the Jones' Tract also Amos a lad the son of Barbary and Jesse the oldest son of Molly and Abraham and two hundred pounds in money all of which is given to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Henningham C. Anderson the wife of Robert Anderson the tract of land bought by me of John P. Metauer at two purchases and commonly called Providence except twenty acres joining and most convenient to the tract of land on which I now live and which I intend for my son Abraham at his mother's decease. This land my executors shall lay off according to the directions here given as they shall judge most suitable for Abraham's tract. I give her also forty acres of land to be laid off from the tract on which I live one half on each side of the river to serve as a supply of wood and timber to her tract and to be laid off as conveniently for Abraham's tract as circumstances will permit. This land also I wish my executors to lay off as they judge best according to my directions here given. I give to her besides the negroes now in her possession a negro man called Cooper Joe and Henry the son of Patty who now lives in Halifax also two hundred and fifty pounds in money all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give her also Lewis at her mother's death to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes W. Watkins wife of Henry E. Watkins one undivided half of my tract of land and mill on Difficult creek the other half of which I have given to my daughter Elisabeth W. Watkins being the tract bought of the heirs of Charles Edwards and heretofore described. I give her also one undivided third part of my lot in Richmond inherited of my brother Abraham B. Venable. I give her also a young man Sam Cook and two hundred and fifty pounds in money. All of which I give to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mildred C. Venable all that part of the tract of land which I lately bought of Blake B. Woodson which I have not willed to my daughter Clementina Reid containing about four hundred acres with the buildings etc. I give her also the following negroes to-wit Harry bought of Andrew Johnson's estate Finnetta daughter of Patty and any increase she may have before my decease Sally or Sarah daughter of Polly and her increase Betsy daughter of Molly and Abram Billy a cooper at the mill and William at her mother's decease. Also the sum of four hundred pounds all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Nathaniel E. Venable one undivided half of my interest or estate in the mills called Union Mills and of the lot of land on which the same stands containing by estimation about sixty acres in which my brother holds an interest with me he owning one fourth of said land and mill. I give him also two negroes Robin and Letty now in his possession. I give him also Charles wishing him however not to separate him from his wife and children. I wish him to have possession of the mill at the end of the year whenever my decease shall happen. All these I give to him and his heirs forever. I have already given my son Paul C. Venable by deed a tract land which I intended for him. I have also given him the following negroes which are now in his possession viz: David, Len, Peter, Biddy and her child and future increase. I give him also the tract of land bought of George Salmon by me through his attorney Isaac Medley containing about one hundred and twenty nine acres 44 acres however subject to some uncertainty. All these I give to him and his heirs forever. I give unto my son Samuel W. Venable, Jr. one undivided half of my interest or estate in the mills now called Union Mills and of the lot of land on which it stands containing about sixty acres on which the said mill stands which said lot and mill is now owned by me and my brother William. I give him also two small tracts of land near or adjoining the mill lot one bought by me of Charles F. Nash and the other of my brother Abraham B. Venable the first containing about ninety six acres the second about fifty acres for which however I have given him a deed, also a small piece of land adjoining the same bought of Colo. Charles Allen or Edward Reaford, I give him also two hundred and ninety seven acres of land or about that quantity bought of James Daniel being the same land that fell to his children as the distributees of the estate of Abraham B. Venable deceased and for two undivided sixths of which I have given him a title by deed, for the remainder I have not as yet got a legal title but I have a mortgage on James Daniel's land to secure the title. If the title to said land should not be made to me complete in my life time it is my will that the title be made to my son Samuel W. Venable and I will and bequeath to him my right or claim to the land of James Daniel to secure him in case of failure. I give him also the following negroes to-wit Hannah and her children now in his possession Ephriam, Alleck or Alexander and Isac. I have given him Billy and Peter two negro men bought of Miller's Estate. All of which I give to him and his heirs forever. I give him also Ben a cooper at the mill to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Abraham W. Venable the tract of land on which I now live at his mother's decease except about forty
acres which I have directed my executors to lay off in wood land adjoining the Providence Tract which I have willed to my daughter Henningham. I give him also twenty acres of land which I have directed my executors to lay off from the Providence Tract for him. I give him also the following negroes to-wit Harry Patty's son and Mary his wife and their present and future increase John and Frank son of Judy and Andrew all of which I give to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife over and above what I have given her old Aggy, Lewis, son of Patty and Hampton a lad during her natural life. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Mayo Read over and above what I have given her one undivided third of a lot in Richmond which I inherited from my brother Abraham B. Venable. I give and bequeath to my daughter Peggy R. Cabell over and above what I have given her my lot in Farmville to her and her heirs forever. It is my will that my old men Caesar and Warwick live where they choose among the family and be supported out of my estate. If any of my family choose to take them I authorise my executors to make a contract and pay such member of my family at once from my estate what may be deemed a reasonable compensation for their support. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mildred C. Venable over and above what I have given her two negro men Douglas and shop Dick to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel W. Venable over and above what I have given him one negro man cooper Peter to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Abraham W. Venable after the decease of his mother a negro boy Hampton to him and his heirs forever. It is my will and desire that all the residue of my estate real and personal be equally divided between between my eight daughters and youngest son. When my three eldest sons receive their legacies they will all things considered be about as well provided for as the other children of the family. When my beloved wife shall decease that which I have given her for life shall belong to this residue. It is my will that the division of the residue of my estate take place when my daughter Mildred marries or comes of age. I give to each of my children above mentioned viz my eight daughters and youngest son their share of the residue to them and their heirs forever. I appoint my sons Nathaniel E. Venable, Samuel W. Venable, Abraham W. Venable and Isaac Read my son in law executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 26th. day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Interlined before signing. Samuel W. Venable (Seal) Witness Temple D. Richardson. Nath. I. Venable. Andrew Bigger. William D. Epes. Richd. N. Venable. Margaret M. Reid. I have given to my beloved wife during her natural life by this will Molly and Janney two negro women and such of their children now born or hereafter to be born if not by will I disposed of otherwise it is my will that my beloved wife either in her life or at her decease as she shall choose, shall have the right of giving the said negro women and children in any way she chooses so that they are given to some of our children. This alteration I make this 8th. day of August 1820 as witness my hand and seal on that day and date.

Samuel W. Venable (Seal)
Richd. N. Venable.
Margaret M. Reid.
Temple D. Richardson.

At a court held for Prince Edward County September the 17th. 1821, This last will and testament of Samuel W. Venable Dec'd, was presented in court and proved by the oaths of Temple D. Richardson, Nathaniel I. Venable and Richard N. Venable three witnesses thereto, and the codicil to said will was also proved by the oaths of Temple D. Richardson and Richard N. Venable two witnesses thereto, ordered that the said will and codicil be recorded: on the motion of Nathaniel E. Venable and Abraham W. Venable two of the executors therein named, they with Samuel W. Venable, Jr. William S. Reid and Isaac Read their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond for the purpose in the penalty of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars conditioned according to law and took the oath required by law, certificate for obtaining a probat thereof in due form is granted them.
Teste B. J. Worsham, D. C.
A copy,

Teste:--
Horace Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, Virginia.